Adjustable rifle rack



1966 N. E. J. NORRINGTON 3,294,247

ADJUSTABLE RIFLE RACK Filed Jan. 21, 1965 Newel 1 EJ. Norri n g10nINVENTOR BY MQAW ggeni" United States Patent 3,294,247 ADJUSTABLE RIFLERACK Newell E. J. Norrington, 1138 W. 10th Ave., Albany, Oreg. 97321Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,791 Claims. (Cl. 211-64) Thisinvention relates to gun racks, and more particularly to a rifle rackwhich is adjustable both in length and in cradle spacings to accommodatethe mounting of rifles of various types including those fitted withtelescopic sights.

Gun racks of various types have been provided heretofore for supportinga plurality of rifles within a vehicle, for storage and transport to andfrom hunting areas. One such type of gun rack comprises a pair oflaterally spaced support members which are adapted to be secured withina vehicle, for example vertically spanning a window. Each support membercomprises a pair of longitudinally adjustable, overlapping straps whichmay be secured together in the desired position of longitudinaladjustment, for example to span a window of a given size. One of thesestraps supports a plurality of vertically spaced cradles arranged inlaterally spaced pairs for supporting a rifle therebetween.

Gun racks of the foregoing type have been characterized,disadvantageously, by having the cradles spaced apart in permanentlyfixed relation, and it has been the general experience that thesespacings are inadequate to accommodate rifles fitted with telescopicsights.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the persent invention toprovide an adjustable rifle rack of the class described, wherein thespacing between vertically disposed cradles is adjustable over asubstantial range, to accommodate rifles of various types includingthose fitted with telescopic sights.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of anadjustable rifle rack of the class described, wherein the cradle membersnot only are adjustable relative to each other, but also wherein atleast one of the cradle members serves to secure the pair of strapstogether in designed positions of longitudinal adjustment.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provisionof an adjustable rifle rack of the class described wherein each pair ofoverlapping straps is adapted to support a varying number of cradles.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of anadjustable rifle rack of the class described, which is of simplifiedconstruction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willappear from the following detailed description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of an adjustable rifle rack embodyingthe features of the present invention, the same being shown mountedacross a window and supporting a pair of rifles, as indicated in dashlines;

FIG. 2 is a vertical side elevation as viewed along the line 2-2 in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing therifle rack adjusted to greater length and supporting an additionalcradle; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical side elevation of a cradle member, a portion beingbroken away to disclose details of internal construction.

The rifle rack of the present invention includes a pair of elongatedsupports and 12 adapted to be secured to a mounting base in laterallyspaced, vertically extending relation. Each support includes a pair ofelongated strap members 14 and 16 one overlapping the other and adaptedto be adjusted longitudinally relative to each other over a substantialrange to achieve a desired overall length.

The outer end portions 14' and 16' of each strap member is offsetrearwardly and provided with an opening for receiving an attachmentscrew 18 by which to secure the opposite ends of the support to amounting base. In the embodiment illustrated, the strap members areadjusted longitudinally to span the vertical dimension of a vehiclewindow 20, and the outer ends of these strap are secured to the vehiclebody by means of the sheet metal screws 18.

The pair of straps forming each support are provided with a plurality ofopenings 22 spaced apart uniformly along the length of the straps. Thus,the overlapping straps may be arranged with the openings in one of themregistering with openings in the other.

Each support is adapted to mount a plurality of rifle cradles 24 atdesired spaced intervals. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, each cradlecomprises a metal strap 26 bent to substantially U-shape for receivingbetween the spaced arms thereof a portion of the rifle to be supported.The inner arm of the cradle supports a pair of rearwardly projectingpins 28 and 30 which are secured to said arm by welding, riveting, orother appropriate means. The spacing between the pins is the same as thespacing between adjacent or selected other openings 22 in the straps,for reception therethrough.

Each of the 'U-shaped cradle members is covered with a layer ofsynthetic plastic, rubber or other suitable cushioning material 32, toprevent scratching or other damage to the rifle. Although this coatingmay be applied in various ways, for example by wrapping a strip ofcushioning material about the metal base, it preferably is applied bydipping the metal base in the protective material rendered fluid bymelting or by solution.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, both of the projectingpins 28, 30 are threaded for the reception of the securing nuts 34which, when tightened, clamp the overlapping portions of the strapstogether and also secure the cradle firmly to the abutting one of thestraps.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper pin 28 isthreaded for the reception of the securing nut 34, and the lower pin 30is unthreaded. This lower pin thus merely extends through at least oneof a pair of aligned openings 22 in the straps, and serves as analigning pin for maintaining the straps in longitudinal alignment andalso for anchoring the cradle member against rotation about the threadedpin 28.

The foregoing arrangement accommodates adjustment of the straps tovarious overall lengths, as well as adjustment of the cradles to variousspacings. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the straps 14, 16 are shown to be adjusted toan overall length suflicient to span the vertical dimension of a vehiclewindow 20, and the cradles 24 are spaced apart sufficiently toaccommodate two rifles 36 fitted with telescopic sights. Moreover, thecradles serve to secure the overlapping straps together in the desiredposition of adjustment.

In FIG. 3 the straps 14, 16 are adjusted to provide a greater overalllength than that shown in FIG. 2, and a third cradle 24 is supported onthe strap assembly, to accommodate the mounting of a third rifle. Inthis instance the central cradle serves to secure the overlapping strapstogether and pin 30 projects through both of the registering openings22.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the persent inventionprovides a simplified and economical rifle rack which is quite versatilein its degree of adjustment both in overall length and in spacingsbetween cradles, and wherein at least one of the cradles serves tosecure the straps together in a selected position of longitudinaladjustment.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts describedhereinbefore, without departing from the spirit of this invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and the manner 'inwhich it may beused, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mounting rack for rifles, comprising (a) a pair of elongatedsupports adapted to be secured to a base in laterally spaced relation,each support comprising (1) a pair of elongated strap members eachhaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough,

(2) the pair of strap members being adapted to be arranged inlongitudinally adjustable, overlapping relation with the openings insaid overlapping portions in registry with each other,

(3) the outer end of each strap member being adapted to be secured to abase,

(b) at least one rifle support member associated with each support, eachrifle support member having a base portion adapted to abut against theouter surface of the associated overlapping strap members, and

(c) elongated attaching means on said base portion extending rearwardlytherefrom for passage through a pair of said registering openings in theassociated pair of strap members for securing said strap members andsupport member together. 7

2. The mounting rack of claim 1 wherein the rifle support membercomprises a U-shaped cradle member having one of its spaced arms formingsaid base portion supporting the attaching means.

3. The mounting rack of claim including elongated aligning means on thebase portion of each support member extending rearwardly therefrom forreception in at least the adjacent one of another pair of saidregistering openings for securing the support member against rotationabout its attaching means.

4. The mounting rack of claim 3 wherein the attaching means and aligningmeans comprise elongated threaded bolts, and nuts are included forthreaded engagement with the bolts for securing the strap members andsupport member together.

5. The mounting rack of claim 3 wherein the attaching means comprises anelongated threaded bolt, and the nut is included for threaded engagementwith the bolt for securing the strap members and support membertogether, and the aligning means comprises an elongated pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,285,632 6/1942Urbain 2116O 2,535,564 12/1950 Campbell 224- 42.42 2,823,808 2/1958Hindi 211-64 FOREIGN PATENTS 939,623 10/ 1963 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

K. J. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MOUNTING RACK FOR RIFLES, COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF ELONGATEDSUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A BASE IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION,EACH SUPPORT COMPRISING (I) A PAIR OF ELONGATED STRAP MEMBERS EACHHAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, (2)THE PAIR OF STRAP MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED IN LONGITUDINALLYADJUSTABLE, OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH THE OPENINGS IN SAID OVERLAPPINGPORTIONS IN REGISTRY WITH OTHER, (3) THE OUTER END OF EACH STRAP MEMBERBEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A BASE, (B) AT LEAST ONE RIFLE SUPPORTMEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SUPPORT, EACH RIFLE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING ABASE PORTION ADAPTED TO ABUT AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE ASSOCIATEDOVERLAPPING STRAP MEMBERS AND (C) ELONGATED ATTACHING MEANS ON SAID BASEPORTION EXTENDING REWARDLY THEREFROM FOR PASSAGE THROUGH A PAIR OF SAIDREGISTERING OPENINGS IN THE ASSOCIATED PAIR OF STRAP MEMBERS FORSECURING SAID STRAP MEMBERS AND SUPPORT MEMBER TOGETHER.